Type-writing machine.



W. J. NEIDIG.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1912.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

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APPLICATION TILED MAY 20, 1912.

1,053,930. I Pafiented Feb. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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VIA (III/Illl/l/I 'IIIJYIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Witnesses: @M f44g/ WY'MWQ}, g pa o torney izvento r.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. NEIDIG, 0F MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO NEIDIG TYFEWRITER 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1912. Serial No. 698,440.

To all who-m it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. Nnrme, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison. in the county of Dane, State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is .a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Certain principles and features of my invention as described herein are included within the generic invention which is described and claimed in my co-pending application filed April 20, 1908, Serial No. 428,212.

One of the objects of my general invention is to indicate to the operator of a typewriting machine the decreasing distance from the current printing .point to the bottom end of the sheet, or to another point on the sheet, during the progress of the sheet, and this without preliminary care on his part, automatically. This function I believe has never before been performed, but is novel to my general invention. In the drawings described hereinafter I show means for performing such function, and in addition, various other improved indicating means, namely, a visual signaling means, an audible signaling means, and a means for rendering the printing mechanism of the machine inoperative after the writing of a predetermined line, and. for automatically restoring said printing mechanism to operativeness. and for releasing said printing mechanism without loss of line position.

Among the features of theform of the invention described herein is the special use made of various novel electrically controlled devices for controlling and actuating the several indicating means.

Other features thereof include asheet-controlled controlling member having a spring for returning the same to starting position; frictional members having magnetically induced frictional engagement for giving the said member simultaneous movement with the platen; and a lightly-pressing quickacting paper-feeler connected to control the action of the said controlling member.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end View of portions of a typewriting machine showfront, of portions of my mechanism; Fig. 4 .1s a cross-section of a part of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 represents a modification as seen from the end, but with portions of the supporting carriage frame broken away; and Fig. 6 isa View in cross-section on the line a-a of portions of Fig. 5.

The embodiment of my invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is described as follows: The usual carriage frame is indicated at 12, movable laterally upon the main frame 41 of the typewriting machine, and having mounted upon it the shifting platen frame 47, supplied with the usual supporting and controlling mechanism not shown herein. Journaled in the ends of frame i7 is platen arbor 13 bearing the platen 10, which may be regardedas connected with usual line spacing mechanism of any approved type. The paper-table for the support of the entering sheet is shown at 8, the same being carried in usual manner upon the platen frame 17 This structure is well-known to those skilled in the art and need not be more fully described. The platen 10 is supplied with a recess at the end thereof for the platen head 39 and the annular magnet 7, held in position by pins or screws 80. The trough of the magnet contains windings of insulated wire 79, connected at the one end 77 with the annular conductor 75 and at the other end 76 with the annular conductor 741, the said annular conductors being embedded in the usual rubber shell of the platen so as to be insulated. This structure may be taken to represent a convenient form of electro-.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

magnet for the purpose intended, tho-ugh the form of the magnet is not important. This magnet is connected with the source of current on the one side through brush 16, which makes contact with conductor 75, the brush path by a light spring 28 one end of said spring being fastened to rod and the other engaglng upon the paper-feeler. In the absence of the sheet the tip of the paperfeeler rests against a conductor 31 behind the opening or slot 4 in paper-table 8. I employ spring-pressure to give the paperfeeler action into the pa er-path for the reason that it is desirable t at the paper-feeler should have as nearly instantaneous actuation as possible, so that even when released by the sheet in the midst of a feed-movement it will coordinate the position of. the structure controlled by it with that of the-sheet. Partly for the same reason I provide thatas small movement as possible be given the paper-feeler after its release by the sheet. Conductor 31 is held in place by means of the insulation 8 attached to the under side of paper-table 8. From conductor 31 the -wire.A which is suitably insulated, leads into and through cable 53 to the source of current A. The magnet is connected with the source of current on the other side through brush '17, which makes contact with .i 5 annular conductor 74, said brush being attached to the inwardly projecting insulated rod 18. From theconducting connection 19 the insulated wire A leads into and through cable 53 to the switch-lever A", pivoted at A upon the insulated switch-board 33, the said lever in one position making contact with conductor A attached at A to the said switch-board. From the piece A the insulated wire A leads to the source of cur-.

rent A, thus completing the electrical circuit, which includes, as has been described, the magnet and the paper-feeler. I employ cable 53 in order to have a convenient conneotion between the usual laterally-movable carriage 12 and its parts and the source of current, the current in this case being more conveniently taken from a stationary source.

To cooperate with the magnet, I place upon the collar 39 of the platen head a freely revoluble drum made up of the soft iron rear wall 11 and a shell portion, the whole forming the index-carrier or operative member 6. Against artition-plate insidethe said carrier is p aced the cut friction-rin and ten ing to press radially into frictional contact with the carrier. To this ring 24 is attached, by means of rivet 30 conven-g.

24, made of a resilient materialplaten frame 47 is mounted in the plane of projection 14 so as to cooperate therewith, the stop being so balanced as to tend to lie against position-stop 62 on frame 47. The shield-pointer 34 is also attached to the platen frame 47 The operation of this portion of the mechanism is as follows: During the position of the parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the electric circuit hereinbefore described is closed, with theresult that the,

magnet 7 is rendered operative to attract agalnst it the soft iron piece 11, thus holding the carrier 6 is a frictional connection therewith suiiicient to revolve the carrier magnet 7 thereupon ceases to act as a mag net upon the piece 11, the frictional engagement between said magnet and said piece 11 becomes extremely light, the slight residual magnetism being too weak to have any effect upon the spring-controlled carrier, and the carrier 6 under the impulse of the spring 25 is returned backwardly until the projection 14 strikes upon the stop 15, bringing the parts-to rest. The carrier 6 will remain in this position during the further 0 eration of printing the sheet until the en of the sheet passes paper-feeler 28.. The instant paper-feeler 28 is released by the sheet it makes contact with the conductor 31, the

circuit is again closed, the magnet 7 is inof the sheet is a fixed distance from the printing point, and as the carrier maintains always a line by line progress thereafter with the sheet, since it moves with the platen and theplaten-advances the sheet, it'must bring always the same point on it peri hery opposite the pointer 34 when the en of the sheet-attains any given distance from the plate, and screw 68, which fits Y printing point. This distance whatever it be, can be determined, and indicated by an index on the carrier, so that the distance from the end of the sheet to the printing pointwill be indicated line by line from the time the paper-feeler 28 is released .by the sheet until the sheet leaves the machine. Other units than the line unit may of course be used for the indices, and instead of giving the distance to the bottom edge of the sheet, the distance toa point a definite distance therefrom may be given. It is of course immaterial whether the stationary and the movable indices come to relative rest exactly opposite one another, or whether the indices in themselves signify distance-units at all. I refer to use indices involving no menta calculation nor memorizing on the part of the operator.

My invention also serves to give the opperator a visual signal when the end of the sheet is near. I usually use for a stationary index a shield-pointer that conceals one portion of the carrier from the operator, and the carrier itself is divided into two differently appearing segments, one of which is visible to the operator during the detained position of the carrier, and the other of which is not visible but lies behind the" shield-pointer in that position of the carrier. In my drawings I show the first named of these segments as containing no indices, and by reference I color this segment black, and the second of these segments, .which I cause to bear indices, I prefer to supply with a ground of white. When the sheet-end releases the carrier, and

' the white index-bearing segment comes into view, the change fromblack to white attracts the operators attention and he knows that the end of the sheet is within a given distance from his printing point. It isof course not essential that the white segment should come into View at the very first feedmovement of the platen after the release of the carrier to move therewith-the black segment may be extended under the shieldpointer until several feed-movements Wlll intervene before thewhite segment with its indices comes into View, so that this signal may be-given when the sheet-end attains any. required distance from the printing point. g It. is notessential that the white segment be supplied with indices, northat the index-bearing portion of the carrier be supplied with other distinguishing means.

In addition to. the indicating means described, I usually employ the following indicating means: a bell striking meansibrought.

into action after the completion of a predetermined amount of matter on the page, and a locking means for preventing the use of the printing mechanism in printing. A convenlent form of the bell and lock actuatin means is shown in the drawings, although do not limit myself thereto in applying my ;i1 1vention to typewriting machines. Upon the platen frame 47 I place the insulated contact points B and B projecting them inwardly into the plane of the brush 1 on 3 carrier 6. From these contact the insulated wires 13 and through the cable 53, the wire B then leading through the conducting lever B and co- ;ope-rating conducting piece B on the switch- I board 33 to the coils upon the electro-magnet 42, and through them to the source of elec- 2 into and tricity B, while the wire B leads directly fIOlTl the cable to the source B. -It will be at once perceived that this constitutes, when .the brush 1 cont-acts With contact-points B and B, a complete electrical circuit. It

iwill be seen also that when the circuit is thus completed, the magnet 42 in the circuit will become operative as an electro-magnet.

.This magnet 42 is shown in Fig. l in side view, only one of the coils appearing, but

the shaft 37 are placed arms 3 bearing the bail-piece 50, the said' shaft extending through the machine from side frame to side frame and the said arm being fixed thereon at both ends so that the intermediate portion of the bail-piece will lie adjacent to projection 38 as shown. As will be seen, when bail-piece 50 is rocked upon its axis the laterally extending portion will lie under projection 38 and prevent the operation of the key-lever 58 and of the type-bar 78 connected therewith. The arm 3 has attached to it the inwardly projecting soft iron bar 46; and a small weight-55 tends to hold the bail-piece clear of projection 38 and the arm 3 against the stop 55% on the main frame 41. The arm 3 has also attached to it the bell-clapper 26 on the flexible spring shaft 72. The bell 27 is supported in the path of the said clapper 26 by means of the central in 86 from the main frame 41 of the machine. When now the brush 1 on the carrier 6 closes the electrical circuit through the contact points B and B, the magnet 42 becomes operative to attract the soft iron bar 46, arm 3 is rocked on its axis, the clapper 26 strikes the bell, and the printing mechanism through the action -of the oints extend his sheet after the machine is locked, but

Wishes to do further printing upon it, he has but to lift the switch-lever B out of contact with the cooperating part B and the circuit is broken, with the same result, the lever maintaining its elevated position byfriction. It is obvious that the machine can be locked against printing at any desired distance from the bottom edge of the sheet, the brush 1 as has been explained being angularly adjustable upon carrier 6.

In order that my mechanism should be highly effective under all conditions of practice, I make the following provision whereby the sheet can be backed up at any time, even after the paper-feeler 28 has been released by the sheet, namely, by providing that paper-feeler 28 shall be journaled upon rod. 20 by means that will present no obstacle on the platen side of the paper-feeler to the backing-up bottom edge of the sheet, which will be guided out along the under side of the paper-feeler without disturbing the position of the feeler.

Figsp5 and 6 represent a modification in my, mechanism, the essential structure of which is as follows: The carriage frame 47 has journaled in its ends the platen arbor 13 bearing theplaten head 39 and platen l0. Recessed into the end of the platen and attached to revolve therewith is a constantly acting magnet, preferably the permanent magnet 7 of the annular form shown. The independently revoluble indexcarrier 6 made of soft iron is placed upon the sleeve of the platen head 39 so as to turn freely thereon, but it is held against the magnet by magnetic attraction so as to have a frictional connection with the magnet. The carrier 6 has on it the outwardly projecting pin 14 audit is supplied with the shield-pointer 34 and with indices like the indices shownin Fig. 3. It is not essential that the parts be of the exact form shown. The frame 47 bears the inwardly projecting guides 49, in which slides the retractible stop 15 supplied with the shoulder 50 and the compressed coiled spring 11 the said stop in one position lying in the path of the pin 14?. Attached to the stop is the soft iron bar 46, adapted to cooperate with the electromagnet 43, which may be regarded as supported upon the frame 47 by means of the piece 44. The paper table 8, supported in the usual way upon the frame 47 has in it a slot or opening like that shown in Fig. 3, behind which, attached to the under side of the paper-table, isthe insulation 8 having embedded therein the conpaper-feeler 28.

ona-sac and an insulated wire C from the conductor 31 through the coils of the magnet 43 also to the source of current C. I show a paper sheet 45 as lying on the paper-table 8 under In this position of parts the electrical circuit through the magnet 43 is complete except for the break caused by the paper sheet, which is anon-conductor, and for the air gap under the sheet and between the feeler 28 and the conductor 31 The mechanism operates as follows: The sheet is inserted in the machine in the usual way, and is advanced as usual by the revolving platen. The index carrier 6 frictionally connected with the platen by means of the magnet 7 revolves therewith until detained by the action of the stop 15 upon the projection 14 Eventually the end of the sheet passes from under the paper-feeler 28 the feeler makes a contact with the conductor 31 and the circuit being completed the electro-magnet 43 acts upon the bar 46 and through it removes the stop 15 from the path of the projection 14 whereupon the carrier 6 no longer detained, begins moving with the platen. As the carrier must begin this movement when the bottom edge of the sheet is a fixed distance from the printing point, and'maintains always thereafter a line by line progress with the sheet, it can be supplied with indices as being the novel use described.

The devices shown in the drawings and described herein are part. of a series of closely related inventions or improvements which are presented in a number of copending applications for Letters Patent filed by me. The said devices have a number of general objects in common with those forming the subject matter of different applications in the said series, and to a certain extent embody and utilize various principles and features which are common to devices shown and described in one or another of the said applications. Some of the said common principles and features are claimed broadly 'in my application filed April 20,

190.8, aforesaid, and 1n my applications filed'i Dec. 13, 1909, Serial No. 532,928; Dec. 15,

1909, Serial No. 533,309; April 25, 1910, Serial No. 557 ,330; Mar. 30, 1912, Serial No. 687,463; 689,560.

The branch of the general invention that is covered hereby is distinguished by the characteristic features specified in the following claims.

I claim as neW and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a plurality of indices, and electrically controlled means adapted to bring the respective indices into indicating prominence as the sheet is advanced by the platen into the several corresponding predetermined sheet-positions. a

2. In a typeWrit-ing machine, in combination, a platen, and electrically controlled indicating means adapted to indicate successive positions of the sheet, under the control of the sheet, as the same is advanced through the machine by the platen.

3. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a plurality of indices, and means including sheet-controlled electrical devices for bringing the respective indices into indicating prominence as an end of the sheet arrives at constant distances from the printing point.

4. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, indices, means for giving said operative member a constant starting position, and electrically controlled means for giving said member simultaneous movement With the platen from such position, to render said indices eifective to inform the operator of the progress of the sheet.

5. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, indices, means for giving said indices a constant noneindicating position, a sheet-controlled electrical circuit, and means controlled through said circuit for giving said indices indicating prominence coordinately With the progress of the sheetfrom such constant position.

6. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an indicator, a spring for returning said indicator into starting position, and sheet-controlled means for connecting said indicator to move with the platen from such position.

7. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a paper-feeler, an index-carrier actuated from the platen under the control of said paper-feeler, and means including a springfor returning said index-carrier into starting position.

' 8. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, indices called into operation through said member,

and April 9, 1912, Serial No.

10. In a typewi'iting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative mgmber, a visual signaling means, means for giving the operative member a constant starting posi tion, a sheet-controlled electrical circuit, and

means controlled by a device in said circuit for glving said member movement correlated With that of the platen from such position, thereby rendering said signaling means effective.

11. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, a visual signaling means called into operation through said member, a spring for returning said member into starting position, and means for giving said member movement correlated With that of the platen from such position.

12. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, a visual signaling means, a spring for returning said operative member into starting position, and sheet-controlled means for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position, thereby rendering audible signaling means controlled by said member, means for giving said, member a constant starting position, a sheet-controlled electrical circuit, and means controlled by a device in said circuit for giving said member simultaneous movement with the platen from such position.

15. In a typewriting machine, in combina tion, a platen, a bell-striking means in an electrical circuit, an operative member in control of said circuit, means for giving said member a constant starting position, and

means for giving said member movement correlated With that of the platen from. such position.

16. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen an audible signaling means in an electrical circuit, an operative member in control of said circuit, means for giving said member a constant starting osition, and sheet-controlled means for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from said position;

17. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, an audible signalin means called into operation through sai member, a spring for returning said member into starting position,

and sheet-controlled means for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position.

18. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a sheet-controlled electrical circuit, and a device in said circuit for rendering the typewriter mechanism inoperative at a predetermined line-position as the sheet is advanced through the machine by the platen. W

19. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a carriage, an electrical circuit, and a device in said circuit cont-rolled from said carriage for rendering the typewriter mechanism inoperative at a predeter- .member a constant starting position, and

electrically controlled means for giving said member simultaneous movement with the platen from such position, to render the first'named means effective.

22. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, means for rendering the typewriter mechanism inoperative, means for giving the operative member a constant starting position, a sheetcontrolled electrical circuit, and means controlled by a device in said circuit for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position, thereby rendering the first-named means effective to indicate the sheet-position to the operator.

23. In a typewritin machine, in combination, a platen, means or rendering the typewriter mechanism inoperative, an operative member in control of said means, a spring for returning said member into starting position, and means for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position, thereby rendering said roeaaao first-named means effective to indicate the sheet-position.

2a. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, means controlled thereby for rendering the typewriter mechanism inoperative, aspring for returning the operative member into starting position, and sheet-controlled means for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position.

25. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, the carriage, printing mechanism, and an electrical device controlled from the carriage for locking the printing mechanism against printing at a predetermined line-position as the sheet is advanced through the machine by the platen.

26. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, printin instrumentalities, and a sheet-controlled e ectrical device for locking the printing instrumentalities against use in printing at a predetermined line-position as the sheet is advanced through the machine by the platen.

27. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, printing instrumentalities, an

operative member, means controlled by said member for locking said printing instrumentalities against use in printing, a spring for returning the operative member into starting position, and means for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position.

28. In a typeWrit-ing machine, in combination, a platen, printing instrumentalities, an operative member, means controlled by said member for locking said printing instrumentalities against use in printing, a spring for returning said member into starting position, and sheet-controlled means for giving the said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position.

29. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, indicating means, means for giving said member a constant starting position, and electrically controlled means for giving said member simultaneous movement with the platen from such position, to render said indicating means eifective.

30. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, indicating means, means for giving said operative member a constant starting position, a sheet-controlled electrical circuit, and means controlled by a device in said circuit for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position, thereby rendering said indicating means effective.

31 In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an indicating device in an electrical circuit, an operative member in control of said circuit, means for giving said member a. constant starting position, and

means for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position.

32. In a typewriting machine,- in combination, a platen, an indicating device in an electrical circuit, an operative member in control of said circuit, means for giving said member a constant starting position, and sheet-controlled means for giving said member simultaneous movement with the platen from such position.

33. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, indicating means called into operation through said member, aspring for returning said member into starting position, and sheetcontrolled means for giving said member movement correlated with that of the platen from such position.

34. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a revoluble member, indicating means called into operation through said member, a spring adapted to act rotatively upon the said member, a projection on themember, a stop cooperating therewith, and sheet-controlled means for giving the member movement correlated with that of the platen.

35. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, indieating means called into operation through said member, means for giving the said member a constant startmg position, 00-

operating friction members having a magnet-closed engagement for giving said member simultaneous movement with the platen, and sheet-controlled means for controlling the said movement.

36. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a rotary member having a projection thereon, a stop adapted to cooperate with said projection to give said member a constant starting posit-ion, indicating means called into operation through said member, and means including a magnet .whereby the member is rotated simultaneously position.

37. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, an operative member, indicating means called into operation through said member, means for giving the said member a constant starting position, and sheet-controlled means for giving the said member simultaneous movement with the platen from such position, including a paper-feeler spring-pressed into the paper-- path and movable out of the paper-path by the leading edge of the sheet as the same is entered into the machine.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM J. NEIDIG.

with the platen from said starting Witnesses:

NATHAN B. DAY, OsoAR'F. HILL. 

